Chapter 113: The Hunt for the Bull Shark King

After being baptized by the golden rain, the saltwater crocodiles began to slowly awaken their spiritual intelligence.

Lu Chen had no intention of slaughtering these kin. After all, he intended to build a kingdom of crocodiles within this alien space, and they would eventually become his subjects. Following a friendly and cordial exchange, Lu Chen continued swimming downstream.

Upon reaching the river estuary, a surprising discovery awaited him. The saltwater crocodiles gathered here had formed a small community of over thirty individuals. It included not only females but also more than a dozen males. A male saltwater crocodile, over eight meters in length, served as the leader of this group.

When this creature spotted Lu Chen, it trembled with fear. As a behemoth that had survived in the Blue Star’s ecosystem for decades, the leader possessed high survival instincts. It had an almost instinctive intuition regarding the strength of its opponents, a sense that had become even sharper after the baptism of the golden rain. In fact, many long-lived animals possess such skills—this is what is meant by the saying that a creature living long enough becomes a demon.

Although their sizes were comparable, the aura emanating from Lu Chen made the leader shiver, and it instinctively signaled its submission. Through a brief exchange, Lu Chen learned why they had gathered: they were banding together to defend against a group of sea monsters.

After hearing their description, Lu Chen realized what these "monsters" were—a pack of sharks. Recently, they had been swimming from the ocean into the freshwater rivers, launching attacks on the crocodiles. Many crocodiles had been killed or wounded, leaving them with no choice but to huddle together for survival under the guidance of the oldest and strongest male.

Since Lu Chen had decided to establish a crocodile kingdom, these individuals were potential recruits. Therefore, he did not mind lending a hand when his abilities permitted. To his knowledge, the only sharks capable of hunting in freshwater before the Great Transformation were bull sharks, as their unique physiology allowed them to thrive in low-salinity water. Of course, things were different now; perhaps other species had evolved similar traits. Given that they could continuously outmaneuver the crocodiles, these sharks had almost certainly undergone mutations.

With Lu Chen’s current strength, dealing with a group of mutated sharks would be effortless. However, as a crocodile with a human soul, he knew that relying solely on brute force was the most foolish approach. His precious intellect was his greatest asset for survival in this world. Furthermore, while his attack power was formidable, his speed in the open ocean could not match that of sharks, making them difficult to catch if they fled.

Therefore, using a trap with bait was the best solution.

Lu Chen scouted the estuary and finally selected a small, gourd-shaped marsh lake. It had a wide basin and a narrow entrance, spanning several thousand square meters. The entrance channel, connecting to the main river, was about ten meters wide—a perfect spot for an ambush.

Once the target was confirmed, Lu Chen had the crocodile leader capture two wild boars from the shore. He killed one and threw it into the lake, while tearing the other into pieces to scatter along the river and the shallows. Then, it was time to wait patiently. The strong scent of blood quickly diffused into the deep ocean with the current, acting as a fatal temptation for the sharks.

Before long, a school of sharks appeared near the estuary. After a brief pause, they swam upstream. Lu Chen suppressed his aura and buried his massive body deep within the riverside bushes. Seeing those hulking shapes in the water, he immediately recognized them as the bull sharks he had suspected.

Many believe bull sharks to be solitary, dim-witted predators, but that is a misconception. These creatures possess high intelligence and complex social behaviors. Like a wolf pack, they maintain a strict social hierarchy. Every group has a "leader," and members are acutely aware of their standing. When members of different groups meet, they communicate through various behaviors to determine social status and adjust their attitudes accordingly. In the era of the Great Transformation, these creatures had likely evolved even greater intelligence.

To Lu Chen, however, it mattered little. Watching the prey swim into his trap, he slipped silently from the shore into the water, his massive body blocking the lake entrance. He locked his gaze onto the leading bull shark. The creature was only seven meters long, but its girth made it appear at least a size larger than Lu Chen, with an estimated weight exceeding three tons. It was no wonder the crocodiles had been forced to cower in the marshes, not daring to hunt.

Like all sharks, bull sharks possess sensitive olfactory organs and electroreceptors, allowing them to perceive complex environmental information. The moment Lu Chen entered the water, they sensed him. Behind him, the other saltwater crocodiles also slipped into the water, their eyes fixed on the prey inside the lake.

Sharks lack vocal organs, but that does not mean they cannot communicate; they use over twenty types of body movements to signal one another. The bull shark king lashed its tail against the current, creating a splashing sound. Receiving the signal, the surrounding sharks quickly dispersed to form a cone-shaped formation.

The bull shark king did not attack immediately. Instead, its eyes remained fixed on the massive four-legged reptile at the lake entrance, filled with caution. It clearly sensed a terrifying, oppressive aura radiating from the creature—much like the eight-legged monster it had encountered days ago. No, this four-legged creature was even more powerful.

The bull shark king felt completely suppressed. For the first time, fear took root deep within its heart. It scanned the perimeter of the small lake, searching for an escape route. Indeed, the bull shark king was strategizing.

Many years ago, when it was still a fetal shark in its mother’s womb, it had realized it was different from its siblings. An instinctual voice whispered that by devouring its brothers and sisters, it would become stronger. It chose to follow that guidance. In the days that followed, it migrated within its mother’s body, swiftly consuming one sibling after another. Ultimately, it was the sole survivor, claiming all the nutrients and becoming the strongest and most ferocious individual to be born.

Since birth, the creature had been exceptionally fierce and adept at learning from others. It learned how to chase prey more efficiently and how to avoid natural predators. It was that voice in its head that had helped it survive its fragile infancy and grow, step by step, into a fearsome bull shark.